Be Aware: Fentanyl Targeted Towards Youth

September 9, 2022 - The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and local partners are warning about new forms of fentanyl that have begun circulating in Washington targeted towards children and young adults. These versions of the drug are formulated in brightly colored pills, powders, and blocks that have been termed "rainbow fentanyl" in many media reports.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. Just two milligrams of fentanyl, which is equal to 10-15 grains of table salt, is considered a lethal dose. Because there is no way to know how much fentanyl is concentrated in a pill or powder without laboratory testing, the drug is extremely dangerous and frequently overdosed.

Island parents and community members are encouraged to have frank conversations with the youth in their lives about the dangers of fentanyl. Resources are available on the City's Healthy Youth Initiative website to help facilitate these conversations.

Drug overdoses continue to climb across the nation, with fentanyl deaths leading the charts. Taking steps to inform children and young adults about what these drugs are, what they look like, and their extreme danger has a critical impact in preventing overdoses and tragedies. 

If you ever encounter someone who may be experiencing an overdose, call 911 immediately - Mercer Island first responders carry the drug Naloxone, which can reverse an overdose and save lives. It's important for youth and adults alike to know that calls for medical help will not result in legal consequences under Washington State's Good Samaritan Law. If you encounter what you believe to be fentanyl in any form, do not handle it and call 911.

You can learn more about fentanyl on the DEA's website.